Today's Passage - Ephesians 4:11-13

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 4:11-13    "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."   Paul showed us the blueprint that God used to build the church.  First, He gave out the spiritual gifts to establish the church.  The order of the gifts here is not an order of important, but an order in establishing the church.  The gift of apostle and prophet is to know what the era of time needs, to point out the will of God and to identify and promote believers with all kinds of gifts and guide them towards the same direction.  Same thing with the evangelists - It's not that those with no gifts for evangelism don't need to spread the gospel because we all need to testify for the Lord, but some of us do have the gifts to bring people to the Lord and it is particularly effective for them to spread the gospel.  The primary job of pastors and teachers is to shepherd and equip the church, to take care of the needs of brothers and sisters and teach the truth.  The church, however, won't necessarily be built just from having these gifts.   Second, there gifts do not replace the roles that all saints play in the Kingdom of God.  There's often a misconception among the lay believers in the church: "We will be just fine if we have a good pastor, we don't need to do anything."  The same phenomenon was seen both among the Israelites in the time of Exodus and also believers today; we often receive second-hand information concerning the teachings of God, just like what the Israelites pleaded with Moses: "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."  In the Old Testament time, God and people had an indirect relationship through prophets and priests; in the New Testament time, however, many unfortunately still live in the realm of Old Testament.  Actually, the most important role in the Kingdom of God is not the apostle or pastor, but every saint that God has selected!  We are all important in the Kingdom of God, because only through saints can a body of Christ be established.  So, do not look down on yourselves, because you are part of the Kingdom of God that cannot be missed!   Third, these gifts are meant "to prepare God's people for works of service," but it's not for replacing the saints.  So should we be prepared?  Verse 12 says that we need to "be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature..."  This means that we need to do more than just talking about the truth.  Many can talk about the truth rather eloquently, but don't have much experience to share about.  Knowledge and faith must be one, because the church according to God's blueprint is not a church of superstars, but instead one that all lay believers are mobilized to serve.  May God give us the spirit of unity so that we may work together for Him!                                                                                   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I pray for all brothers and sisters; I ask that you give us spiritual gifts and the spirit of unity so that we may collaborate in Christ to build a church that glorifies you.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Ephesians 4:7-10

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 4:7-10   "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.  This is why it says: 'When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.'  What does 'he ascended' mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?  He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe."   Spiritual gifts are the power that God gave to us for us to serve, and they are different from talents.  This doesn't mean that what you have learned cannot be used to serve God, but your gifts may not be what you are good at.  We often mix up gifts and talents in the church, causing many people to serve simply by their talents, but not by their real gifts.  We are born with talents and we can offer them for God to use, but these are talents that we have to offer, not gifts.  Gifts are given by God and we may not have ever had them before; they are the power added to us by God.  The gifts that Bible teaches about are all let by the Holy Spirit, for the purpose of satisfying God's will and for people to benefit from.   Usually, people believes that gifts to perform signs and wonders need to be led by the Holy Spirit, but other gifts may be born with, but that's not right.  None of the gifts are born with; they all need to be led by the Holy Spirit.  Without the help of Holy Spirit, none of the gifts can be exercised.  Gifts are like a channel, and Holy Spirit is the water that flows through the channel.  If it wasn't for the work of the Holy Spirit, gifts won't be effective because you won't see any results.  On the other hand, if the gifts don't have vessels, blessings from the Holy Spirit won't come upon people.  That's why God is constantly searching for vessels to work with Him.  When a vessel of gifts work with the Holy Spirit, signs and wonders will happen; if we won't understand this, we may take our gifts lightly.   So, if there are gifts for healing, why don't we go pray for all patients in the hospital?  We do have the gifts, but if the dominion of Holy Spirit doesn't choose to work there, gifts won't carry any power.  Gifts must have Holy Spirit flowing through in order for signs and wonders to happen.  If we overlook work of the Holy Spirit, gifts won't be effective and you won't even know you have them.  We need to welcome work of the Holy Spirit inside us and let the gifts be manifested by Him, so that we may walk on the path to serve Him with a humble heart and follow the promoting of the Holy Spirit in the process.                                                                                   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I bring all the brothers and sisters before you; when we are seeking gifts in order to serve you, may the Holy Spirit help us, let us follow prompting of the Holy Spirit so that we can see all the gifts that you'll grant us.  May the Lord give us a soft and humble heart when we seek your gifts, and let your glorious riches come and accomplish your work.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Ephesians 4:4-6

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 4:4-6   "There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."   Paul mentioned here about the seven foundations of unity in Christ: One body, which is the church of Christ.  No matter how many denominations there are - Baptist, Presbyterian, Fundamentalist, Evangelicals, Charismatic or Independent, everyone belongs to the big church in the heaven, which is the church of Christ.  Christ only has one body, so early or modern churches alike everyone belongs to the same body.  We need to know clearly that all churches are one so that we won't be deceived by the enemy and divide within ourselves. One Holy Spirit.  Although the gifts of Holy Spirit are different and different people experience the Holy Spirit differently, everything comes from the same Spirit.  Therefore, don't criticize the experience of others that are different from yours, thinking that they much be from the evil spirit; although experiences are different, as long as the same Lord is proclaimed, they are all from the same Spirit. Same hope, which is the hope for the Lord's return.  No matter how our days are on earth and what the circumstance is, there is one glorious hope, which is the Lord's return.  When He returns, we will be changed to perfection just like Him.  There won't be any sorrow or tears, and there'll be no more death; before Him we will enjoy His love and the love of brothers and sisters. One Lord, which is Jesus Christ.  No matter how different our gifts are, we all serve the same Lord.  No matter we are serving inward or outward, on or off the podium, in quietness or busyness, we all serve the same Lord.  So let's us criticize each other or claiming to be spiritual. One faith, which is the faith to be justified.  We are all equal before God, and no matter how our families, backgrounds and circumstances differ we are all sinners before God, and we all need the salvation that justifies us by faith.  Because of salvation, we cannot boast anything and we must connect with each other in Christ. One baptism.  Baptism is not only done by water, which leads up to Christ Jesus, but also the baptism by Holy Spirit, in order for us to unite as the body of Christ. One God, which is Father God.  He is the Father of everything, the creator of all in universe.  We are all from Him and belong to Him, and He is our trust, our strength and our help.  Our spiritual life originates from Him, we all belong to the same spiritual family, and in Christ we are one.  Brothers and sisters, we are one in Christ, so may God help us to "keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."                                                                                   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you for putting before us such important fundamental truth.  Although we are all different, in Christ we have the same life, serve the same Lord and have the same Holy Spirit.  May the Lord keep our heart and mind, let us be humble, so that we might be united in Christ to build the glorious church.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Ephesians 4:1-3

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 4:1-3   "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."   There must be a direct relationship between our inner life and living.  Many people stress the importance of inner life, but what is it anyways?  Actually, life is same as living.  Apart from living, it's hard to understand what life means.  In Ephesians chapters 1 to 3, Paul talked about the life in Christ, and then he started talking about Christian living.  Paul heavily stressed change in living; one who has real inner life should also have changed living.  If a person talks about life all the time but still criticize and attack others or complain all the time, this person must have issues with his inner life.  Therefore, when I hear people pursuing inner life, I first look at how they live, otherwise pursuing inner life is just a way to avoid facing the reality of living, and it won't benefit anyone else.  Too many people talk about inner life all the time, thinking that they are more spiritual, but we can't see good testimony for the Lord in how they talk and live, which is quite regrettable.  We need to make sure our living matches our inner life in the Lord.  Paul has mentioned a few ways to testify for the Lord in how we live: Be humble, which means to see other better than ourselves.  A person who's proud, the opposite of humble, often see themselves better than others, and it's hard for them to collaborate with others. Be gentle.  In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord said that "blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."  People who are gentle can be shaped more easily, and that's why they can inherit all the spiritual properties. Be patient.  Patience is an important virtue; many people have zeal and knowledge when they pursue spirituality, but they lack patience.  They easily develop low self-esteem and give up on themselves.  One of the greatest shortfalls for believers is that we cannot persist till the end.  May the Lord grant us patience from God, so that we can persist in our run on the path to spirituality. Bear with one another in love.  Bearing with one another is a necessary lubricant between human relationships.  The Lord was tolerant and accepting towards us and He always forgives us, constantly giving us second chances, so how can we not tolerate and accept each other? Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Unity needs to be kept through effort, and another word for "keep" is "maintain."  Unity in the heart is not formed naturally, for it needs to be won by paying a price.  By natural it's easy for us to split the body of Christ into pieces.  Brothers and sisters, what is the condition of your life?  Does your inner life match your daily living?                                                                                   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, may your Holy Spirit examine us to see whether our inner life and our daily life are matching.  Please support us wherever we are weak, and cleanse us wherever we have sinned again you.  Let us regain strength to move onward on the path of our spiritual pursuit, so that we can be more like the Lord.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Ephesians 3:20-21

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 3:20-21   "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."   God can and is willing to work among us.  Today, He can still install spiritual dreams and lively faith into our hearts.  Don't be deceived by the authority of dark world into having fear in your heart.  Our God is still sitting on the throne, and His power can still breakthrough darkness and move deep inside our heart!   Go can accomplish things for us.  Not only can He prompt us in our heart, but He can only accomplish what He started.  2 Timothy 1:12 says: "...because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."  Since we belong to God, we need to bring our needs before God, and believe that it's much better to leave it to God rather than holding onto things in our own hands.  The Bible tells us that God makes covenant with us.  The meaning of a covenant is to unite and bind.  We need to come before God and make covenant with Him.  God will love us with His eternal love, so we should love God wholeheartedly.  We need to bring our life and our family before God and to live for Him.  Just like what Joshua 24:15 says, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."  As soon as we have a covenant with God, the covenant becomes a guarantee, and God will keep this covenant and let His zeal accomplish great things.   Not only can God accomplish things, He will "do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..."  God will accomplish everything through the Holy Spirit, but you must let the Holy Spirit work within you and let Him work!  Don't hold on to your wound and self-esteem and tell God "don't bother me."  Actually, Holy Spirit is already residing inside you, so let Him work in you; the Lord's life is already inside you, so let Him flow!  No matter how tough you look and how much you demand yourself, one day you will come before God and say "Lord, there's nothing I can do, I welcome you to come and work!"  At first, you may not feel the different to let go and let God work, but when you are willing to let go, you will discover that you will start to praise from inside and the Lord's life will begin to flow from you.  Wounds no longer bind you and you are filled with endless joy that you never had before.  God is real, so let us experience Him!                                                                                   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because your promises are so precious.  You can accomplish whatever you promise, and you will accomplish far more than what we can imagine.  When we bring all our needs before you in prayer, we sincerely believe that you can accomplish everything.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Ephesians 3:17-19

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 3:17-19   "...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."   What kind of love is "rooted and established?"  Paul specifically mentioned that we need to understand God's love "together with all the saints."  Love cannot come out by us pondering about how to do it; we need to experience and enjoy love with brothers and sisters.  Many people have the wrong concept: "I just want to love God, not people, but loving people is too troublesome."  This is really two sides of the same coin - You can't possibly just love God and not love people.  One who loves God will follow God's command to love people like loving themselves.  A life with love can be revealed in three ways:   1.      A life of love is one that accepts others.  Love of the Lord is a love of acceptance; when Jesus was on earth, the first thing He did when we started serving people is to accept those who were in need.  Not only did He accept the tax collector Zaccheus whom no one liked, he also accepted the elderly scholar of Nicodemus.  Not only did He accept the ordinary and rude fisherman Peter, He also accepted Paul who persecuted the church.  He didn't distant Himself from the Samaritan woman because of her sins, nor did he reject Peter because Peter denied Him three times.  Although we were also not worthy, He was still willing to accept us into God's kingdom.  If the Lord can accept us, we should also accept one another.     2.      Life of love is one that helps others.  Lord was always willing to help those who were in need; faced with a congregation that was hungry, He used five bread and two fish to feed five thousand people.  When the wedding banquet ran out of wine, He turned water into great wine.  When He saw people who were sick, He touched them with His hands and healed their disease.  Even when He sacrificed Himself on the cross, He did it to save us from the bondage of sin.  Since the Lord was willing to sacrifice Himself to help us, we should also sacrifice ourselves to help others.  What does sacrifice mean?  Some people define it as "when we don't have enough, we still help others."  It is impossible according to people of the world, but according to God's values, that is what people in the Kingdom of God ought to do.   3.      Life of love is one that forgives others.  The Lord loves to forgive; when we were still sinners, the Lord died for us and revealed God's love to us.  If the Lord can forgive us for what we've forsaken Him, we should also forgive those who've forsaken us.  Matthew 5:44 says that "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."  The first step of forgiveness is to pray.  Once you are willing to submit to God and pray for the enemy, the Holy Spirit will move within your heart.  God's love will release you from hatred and let you have joy again.  May the Lord put such love inside your heart!                                                                                   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because your love is a sacrificial love.  May your love fill us once again, let us live a life of accepting, helping and forgiving others.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Ephesians 3:14-16

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 3:14-16   "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being..."   Paul showed us the example for prayer.  First, he's a man of prayer.  In all his epistles, Paul wrote about his prayer for all churches and brothers and sisters.  Praying in the most important lesson for those who serve God, and we need to learn to pray before we start to serve.  There was a minister who put a motto on his desk: "Do not start working before praying!"  Indeed, it's easy for us to serve by our own might and do things by our own strength.  It's easy to do, but truly serve God but rely on God's work.  Only through prayer are we able to retrieve God's power.   Next, Paul also understood the authority of prayer.  He kneeled before the Father because they know that all authorities in the heaven and earth are from God.  Naming right represents an authority.  If everyone is named by God, it shows that all authorities are in His hands, and that's why we can pray.  Lord has the authority to turn anything around; when we pray, not only will He listen, but He will also make it happen!   Third, Paul knew how to pray.  When Paul prayed, He understood how to hold on to the promises of God.  Therefore, he asked God to accomplish His pray through His glorious riches; not according to what people want, but according to God's glorious riches.  People's ideas are limited, and often we can't come up with anything brilliant no matter how hard we think.  When the Israelites are going through the Red Sea, the sea was ahead of them and there was an army chasing after them; from perspective of men, there seemed to be no way out, but the way of God was right inside the ocean, how miraculous!  Our hearts will be strengthened by God's Spirit when we see how prayer is answered according to the glorious riches of God, not by our own view.   As soon as you understand that God can answer your prayer by His glorious riches, but not by our way, your heart will be encouraged again.  You might have been praying but your own will and there seemed to be no way out, God's Word will suddenly awaken you like a double-edged sword, your heart will be turned around and you will begin to as God to manifest His glorious riches in your.  May God come and strengthen your faith again!                                                                                    Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you answer our prayer by your glorious.  May the Lord forgive us, because we have relied on our own ways to pray to you before.  Please open our hearts so that we can pray according to your abundant glory, and we ask that you will answer all our prayers.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Ephesians 3:10-13

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 3:10-13   "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.  I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory."   As ministers of the gospel, we need to explain to people the mystery of God since the creation.  First of all, this mystery is predestined by God since the earth was created.  God has already incorporated the salvation of gentiles in His eternal plan, thus the door of salvation was opened to the gentiles because the Jews rejected Jesus.  So, gentiles are not second class believers in the Kingdom of God, nor are we result of God's revised plan because of the setback.  God has predestined gentiles to be saved since creation.   Next, this mystery will be manifested through the church.  God said that this mystery would not just be manifested through the Jews, but through the church.  Church is one large entity, where Jews, gentiles, men and women are all united into one.  God's will for the church did not just come out in the New Testament time, but it's always been in God's eternal plan.  If God values the church so much, shouldn't we also value the building of the church?  God wants to manifest His glory through the church, as Psalm 8:2 says: "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. "  We are "children and infants," and the enemy is devil Satan.  Children and infants are powerless and can't possibly overcome the enemy, but God does miraculous things and He can manifest His mighty power through people who are weak.  Therefore, Paul encouraged us not to be discouraged, because the attack by the enemy is temporary.  In Christ we can be fearless, because the Lord has overcome all the work of the enemy.  Not only was He victorious, He will also lead us to victory.   Are you in all kinds of suffering?  Don't be afraid and be discouraged; when you have no way to go, God is still your strength and your help.  When you feel that you are like children or infants who have no strength to face warfare against the enemy, God will fight for you, and He will "create power" in you so that all those with a vengeance will be silent.  Hallelujah, praise the Lord!                                                                                    Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you and praise you, because you have the authority to be victorious on us so that we can claim victory against the enemy and those with a vengeance and they will be silenced.  It is your will for your mightiness to be completed through our weakness.  May the Lord manifest this power in us.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!